National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NHTSA will hold a public meeting regarding its initial decision that certain frontal and passenger air bag inflators manufactured by ARC and Delphi through January 2018 contain a defect related to motor vehicle safety and should be recalled.

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act of 2012 (MAP-21) directs NHTSA to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, ``Occupant crash protection,'' to require a seat belt use warning system for rear seats. Pursuant to this mandate and following on an earlier Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, NHTSA is proposing to require a seat belt warning system for the rear seats of passenger cars, trucks, most buses, and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less. This document also proposes to enhance the existing front seat belt warning requirements, including requiring a seat belt warning for the front outboard passenger seat and increasing the duration of the warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval regarding prosecution of driving-under-the-influence-of-drugs (DUID) cases.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is announcing a virtual public hearing to be held September 28, 2023, on its proposal for the ``Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks for Model Years 2027-2032 and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks and Vans for Model Years 2030-2035,'' which was signed on July 28, 2023. This hearing also allows the public to provide oral comments regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement that accompanies the proposal. An additional session will be held on September 29, if necessary, to accommodate the number of people that sign up to testify.

Mack Trucks, Inc., (Mack Trucks), has determined that certain model year (MY) 2015-2023 Mack GU/GR Class 8 trucks and truck-tractors do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. Mack Trucks filed an original noncompliance report dated November 1, 2022, and amended the report on November 3, 2022. Mack Trucks petitioned NHTSA on November 23, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces the denial of Mack Trucks' petition.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen or the ``Petitioner'') has determined that certain model year (MY) 2019 and 2021 Audi motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems. Volkswagen filed noncompliance reports dated March 27, 2019, and July 26, 2021. Volkswagen petitioned NHTSA (the ``Agency'') on April 17, 2019, and August 25, 2021, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This notice announces the denial of Volkswagen's petitions.

NHTSA, on behalf of the Department of Transportation (DOT), is proposing new fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks and fuel efficiency standards for model years (MYs) 2027-31 that increase at a rate of 2 percent per year for passenger cars and 4 percent per year for light trucks, and new fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans (HDPUVs) for MYs 2030-2035 that increase at a rate of 10 percent per year. NHTSA is also setting forth proposed augural standards for MY 2032 passenger cars and light trucks, that would increase at 2 percent and 4 percent year over year, respectively, as compared to the prior year's standards. NHTSA currently projects that the proposed standards would require an industry fleet-wide average for passenger cars and light trucks of roughly 58 miles per gallon (mpg) in MY 2032 and an industry fleet-wide average for HDPUVs of roughly 2.6 gallons per 100 miles in MY 2038. NHTSA further projects that the proposed standards would reduce average fuel outlays over the lifetimes of passenger cars and light trucks by $1,043 and of HDPUVs by $439. These proposed standards are directly responsive to the agency's statutory mandate to improve energy conservation and reduce the nation's energy dependence on foreign sources.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval titled ``Examining Distraction and Driver Monitoring Systems to Improve Driver Safety.''

This NPRM proposes to adopt a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) to require automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems on heavy vehicles, i.e., vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds). This notice also proposes to amend FMVSS No. 136 to require nearly all heavy vehicles to have an electronic stability control system that meets the equipment requirements, general system operational capability requirements, and malfunction detection requirements of FMVSS No. 136. An AEB system uses multiple sensor technologies and sub-systems that work together to sense when the vehicle is in a crash imminent situation and automatically applies the vehicle brakes if the driver has not done so or automatically applies more braking force to supplement the driver's applied braking. This NPRM follows NHTSA's 2015 grant of a petition for rulemaking from the Truck Safety Coalition, the Center for Auto Safety, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and Road Safe America, requesting that NHTSA establish a safety standard to require AEB on certain heavy vehicles. This NPRM also responds to a mandate under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, directing the Department to prescribe an FMVSS that requires heavy commercial vehicles with FMVSS-required electronic stability control systems to be equipped with an AEB system, and also promotes DOT's January 2022 National Roadway Safety Strategy to initiate a rulemaking to require AEB on heavy trucks. This NPRM also proposes Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations requiring the electronic stability control and AEB systems to be on during vehicle operation.

Polaris Group of America, Inc., (Polaris), has determined that certain motorcycles manufactured by Indian Motorcycle Company do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. Indian Motorcycle Company, on behalf of Polaris, filed an original noncompliance report dated April 13, 2022, and later amended the report on September 9, 2022. Polaris petitioned NHTSA on May 13, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Polaris's petition.

This notice announces a meeting of the National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC).

This NPRM proposes to adopt a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard to require automatic emergency braking (AEB), including pedestrian AEB (PAEB), systems on light vehicles. An AEB system uses various sensor technologies and sub-systems that work together to detect when the vehicle is in a crash imminent situation, to automatically apply the vehicle brakes if the driver has not done so, or to apply more braking force to supplement the driver's braking. The AEB system proposed in this NPRM would detect and react to an imminent crash with a lead vehicle or pedestrian. This NPRM promotes NHTSA's goal to equip vehicles with AEB and PAEB, and advances DOT's January 2022 National Roadway Safety Strategy that identified requiring AEB, including PAEB technologies, on new passenger vehicles as a key Departmental action to enable safer vehicles. This NPRM also responds to a mandate under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directing the Department to promulgate a rule to require that all passenger vehicles be equipped with an AEB system.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. This collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval concerns NHTSA's Criminal Penalty Safe Harbor Provision. It is a reinstatement of a previously approved information collection. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on June 29, 2022. No comments were received.

NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. Before a federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on a segmentation study related to alcohol-impaired driving and riding (motorcycles). This study's objective is to better understand alcohol-consumption behaviors and how they relate to potential alcohol-impaired driving/riding. The results of this study will help NHTSA inform its consumer messages to reduce fatalities and injuries on US roadways.

This notice grants the petition of Czinger Vehicles (Czinger) for a temporary exemption from windshield abrasion resistance requirements in Federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) No. 205, Glazing materials. The basis for the exemption is that compliance with these requirements would cause substantial economic hardship to a low volume manufacturer that has tried in good faith to comply with the standard. This action follows our publication in the Federal Register of a document announcing receipt of Czinger's petition and soliciting public comments. We received no comments on the petition.

Premiori, LLC, (Premiori), has determined that certain Premiorri Solazo replacement passenger car tires do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles. Premiori filed an original noncompliance report dated June 28, 2022, and amended the report on October 27, 2022. Premiori petitioned NHTSA on July 7, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Premiori's petition.

Toyota Motor North America (Toyota) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2023 Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X motor vehicles, do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/ Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 Kilograms (10,000 Pounds) or Less. Toyota filed a noncompliance report dated July 29, 2022, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the ``Agency'') on August 12, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Toyota's petition.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a modification of a currently approved information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on State Data Transfer for Vehicle Crash Information collection.

Hercules Tire & Rubber Company, (Hercules), has determined that certain Hercules Power ST2 radial trailer tires do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 119, New Pneumatic Tires for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds). Hercules filed an original noncompliance report dated October 5, 2022. Hercules subsequently petitioned NHTSA on October 21, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Hercules' petition.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announces a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Underride Protection (ACUP). This notice announces the date, time, and location of the meeting, which will be open to the public. The purpose of the ACUP is to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on safety regulations to reduce underride crashes and fatalities relating to underride crashes.

Whistleblowers are an important source of information on motor vehicle safety, as Congress recognized in enacting the Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act (Whistleblower Act). NHTSA is proposing rules, including forms, to implement the Whistleblower Act and seeking comment from interested stakeholders. The Whistleblower Act authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to pay an award, subject to certain limitations, to eligible whistleblowers who voluntarily provide original information relating to any motor vehicle defect, noncompliance, or any violation or alleged violation of any notification or reporting requirement, which is likely to cause unreasonable risk of death or serious physical injury, if the information provided leads to the successful resolution of a covered action. The Whistleblower Act also contains protections relating to the whistleblower's identity. This proposed rule will help to facilitate the Agency's identification of information provided by whistleblowers to ensure that whistleblowers receive the protections afforded under the statute. It also describes those limited situations where information that could reasonably be expected to reveal the identity of a whistleblower may be disclosed.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a reinstatement with modification of a previously approved information collection request exploring older drivers' use of rearview video systems (backing cameras). A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published. NHTSA received comments from one organization, which we address below.

On November 15, 2021, Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Under Sec. 24108(e) Congress authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to enhance the collection of crash data by upgrading the Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS) to include (1) additional program sites; (2) an expanded scope that includes all crash types; and (3) on-scene investigation protocols. The NHTSA is conducting a comprehensive review of the Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS) sample design and data collection methods as part of a major effort to upgrade CISS. Users of CISS and other crash data may comment as to the future utility of current CISS, recommend ways to upgrade current CISS, and indicate their anticipated data needs. All comments should be submitted via Docket number NHTSA-2023-0016.

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA), has determined that certain model year (MY) 2020-2021 Freightliner Cascadia motor vehicles (heavy trucks) do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. DTNA filed a noncompliance report dated May 12, 2020, and amended the report on December 23, 2021. DTNA subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the ``Agency'') on June 4, 2020, and later amended its petition on July 13, 2020, and again on January 19, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliances are inconsequential as they relate to motor vehicle safety. This notice announces the denial of DTNA's petition.

This document grants in full the Toyota Motor North America, Inc.'s (Toyota) petition for exemption from the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard (theft prevention standard) for its Crown vehicle line beginning in model year (MY) 2024. The petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the theft prevention standard.